Movies Like American Pop (1981)

American Pop is a 1981 animation, drama, history, music film from Ralph Bakshi with a MovieMagicScore of 6.9/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Whiplash and Blues in the Night.

Animation Drama History Music

Whiplash

2014

Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity.

8.4

MagicScore

Blues in the Night

1941

A struggling band find themselves attached to a fugitive and drawn into a series of old feuds and love affairs, as they try to stay together and find musical success.

6.2

MagicScore

Pete Kelly's Blues

1955

In 1927, a Kansas City, Missouri cornet player and his band perform nightly at a seedy speakeasy until a racketeer tries to extort them in exchange for protection.

6.1

MagicScore

Alvin and the Chipmunks

2007

A struggling songwriter named Dave Seville finds success when he comes across a trio of singing chipmunks: mischievous leader Alvin, brainy Simon, and chubby, impressionable Theodore.

5.8

MagicScore

Chasing Trane

2017

An account of the life of the brilliant jazz musician John Coltrane (1926-67), a gifted saxophonist, an extraordinarily talented thinker whose original, avant-garde work has impacted and influenced people all over the world. A story about music's ability to entertain, inspire and transform.

7.3

MagicScore

Dixieland Droopy

1954

John Pettibone (Droopy), a dog whose love of Dixieland music is not appreciated by those around him, has a lucky meeting with Pee-Wee Runt and his All-Flea Dixieland band at the circus.

6.9

MagicScore

Jam Session

1942

Duke Ellington and Orchestra perform 'C Jam Blues'.

6.2

MagicScore

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

2010

A glimpse at the life of French singer Serge Gainsbourg, from growing up in 1940s Nazi-occupied Paris through his successful song-writing years in the 1960s to his death in 1991 at the age of 62.

6.9

MagicScore

They Shot the Piano Player

2023

New York, 2010. Jeff Harris, a music journalist, sets out to uncover the truth about Francisco Tenório Júnior, a young Brazilian samba-jazz pianist who disappeared in Buenos Aires on March 18, 1976.

6.4

MagicScore

#10

Chico & Rita

2010

Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unites them, but their journey - in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero - brings heartache and torment.

7.1

MagicScore

#11

The United States vs. Billie Holiday

2021

Billie Holiday spent much of her career being adored by fans. In the 1940s, the government targeted Holiday in a growing effort to racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial ballad, "Strange Fruit."

6.5

MagicScore

#12

Nicholas and Alexandra

1971

Tsar Nicholas II, the inept last monarch of Russia, insensitive to the needs of his people, is overthrown and exiled to Siberia with his family.

6.9

MagicScore

#13

Sentimental Value

2025

Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star.

7.5

MagicScore

#14

The Turning

2013

Seventeen talented Australian directors from diverse artistic disciplines each create a chapter of the hauntingly beautiful novel by multi award-winning author Tim Winton. The linking and overlapping stories explore the extraordinary turning points in ordinary people’s lives in a stunning portrait of a small coastal community. As characters face second thoughts and regret, relationships irretrievably alter, resolves are made or broken, and lives change direction forever.

5.6

MagicScore

#15

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

1969

Academy Award-honoree Peter O'Toole stars in this musical classic about a prim English schoolmaster who learns to show his compassion through the help of an outgoing showgirl. O'Toole, who received his fourth Oscar-nomination for this performance, is joined by '60s pop star Petula Clark and fellow Oscar-nominee Michael Redgrave.

6.6

MagicScore

#16

Beautiful But Dangerous

1955

Lina, a music hall singer, has fallen in love with Sergei, a Russian prince. Maestro Doria, who gives her voice lessons and who hopes to make her his mistress, takes her to Paris where she becomes the star of the "Folies-Plastiques".

5.9

MagicScore

#17

Elvis

2022

The life story of Elvis Presley as seen through the complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

7.5

MagicScore

#18

Anastasia

1997

Ten years after she was separated from her family, an eighteen-year-old orphan with vague memories of the past sets out to Paris in hopes of reuniting with her grandmother. She is accompanied by two con men, who intend to pass her off as the Grand Duchess Anastasia to the Dowager Empress for a reward.

7.6

MagicScore

#19

The Flying Ship

1979

Poor chimney sweep Ivan and Princess Zabava fall in love with each other. They dream of their future happy life, but the difference in their social status and the treacherous Polkan, who dreams of marrying a royal daughter and becoming a ruler, stand in their way. To avoid marriage with the royal adviser, Zabava informs that she will marry only the one who can build a flying ship. Now Ivan has to solve this problem by all means.

7.3

MagicScore

#20

The Tale of Tsar Saltan

1984

Tale - this is what is everyone from childhood. Give yourself a chance to once again return to the magical world created by Alexander Pushkin. Adventures brave Tsarevich Guidon, beautiful Swan-Tsar Saltan reminded of that love, loyalty and the spirit always wins!

6.9

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like American Pop?

The top films similar to American Pop by MovieMagicScore are Whiplash (8.4), Blues in the Night (6.2), Pete Kelly's Blues (6.1). Each shares animation/drama/history/music themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is American Pop worth watching?

American Pop holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.9/10 from 116 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is American Pop?

American Pop (1981) is a animation, drama, history, music film directed by Ralph Bakshi, starring Ron Thompson, Lisa Jane Persky, Jeffrey Lippa.

Where can I find more recommendations like American Pop?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more animation recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Whiplash Movies like Blues in the Night Movies like Pete Kelly's Blues Movies like Alvin and the Chipmunks Movies like Chasing Trane Movies like Dixieland Droopy

About movies like American Pop

This ranked list pairs American Pop (1981), a animation and drama and history and music film from Ralph Bakshi, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Ron Thompson take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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